The CATA strongly supports Athletic Training Licensure. We believe there is an urgent and compelling need to license the profession to protect the public, athletic trainers and their employers. To learn more, please see information below.

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California Lacks In Safety For High School Athletes, Study Says

A new study reveals the importance of having qualified athletic trainers available at high schools.

One of the experts behind the study says he is shocked at how poor a job California does at regulating athletic safety.

“California is either dead last or next to last in all of these ratings of high school sports safety,” according to Dr. Eric Post, an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University, who helped author the study.

Robbie Bowers, trainer at Rancho Bernardo High School, says only about 60 percent of California schools have a certified trainer. With several sporting events and practices occurring for each school on any given day, it’s nearly impossible even for schools with a trainer to have adequate coverage for all athletes. LEARN MORE.

Why President Trump's New Sports Medicine Law is Tricky in California

Following years of bipartisan work between members of Congress, President Trump signed new legislation that greatly improves legal protections for athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals when traveling outside of their state of licensure to provide care to athletes.

The bill, named the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act, became law Oct. 5. It was heavily endorsed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the NCAA and every major American professional sports league, and is believed to be a critical step forward in providing the necessary health care to high school and collegiate level athletes.

But there’s one state that will not benefit from the new bill as much as the 49 others, and it’s California.

The state remains alone in not regulating and licensing the athletic training profession, and because athletic trainers in the state aren’t required to be licensed, the trainers that are not will not benefit from the legal protections the new law ensures. LEARN MORE.

Assemblymember Kevin Mullin Announces Legislation to Protect the Public and Regulate Athletic Training in California – the Only State without Oversight

Bill Supported by Leading Physician Groups and Many Other Health Care and Sports Organizations

SAN DIEGO (March 15, 2018) – Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) has announced legislation that would protect the public by requiring licensure for athletic trainers in California – the only state in the nation that does not regulate the profession. Under Assembly Bill 3110, individuals must be certified by the Board of Certification before they can call themselves “athletic trainers,” health care professionals charged with the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses sustained by athletes and individuals of all ages. READ MORE.

CATA's 2018 PSA

“His Entire Body Was Shutting Down": New State Rankings Show Gaps in High School Athlete Safety

By mid-afternoon on August 1, 2017, the temperature in Stockton, Calif. was at least 105 degrees. Thirteen-year-old Jayden Galbert complained to his mother, Shynelle Jones, about the heat, but didn’t want to skip preseason football practice and hurt his chances of making the freshman football team. Instead, he showed up, pushed himself to participate, and then collapsed on the field. “He started vomiting and he was shaking,” Jones says. “He couldn’t see. He was trying to focus, but he couldn’t.” Jayden was eventually airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with exertional heat stroke, which in turn led to rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous condition in which muscle breakdown can cause kidney damage. “His entire body was shutting down and I almost lost him,” Jones wrote on Facebook shortly afterwards. Read more.

CATA President Jason Bennett was interviewed live during the pregame show of the Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers game on 2/24/18. The CATA PSA played on the jumbo tron right after the interview to a packed house!

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 3, 2017) – The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the NCAA have joined a chorus of others asking Governor Brown to license athletic trainers. They cite the serious risks posed to athletes, athletic trainers and their employers due to the unlicensed status of athletic trainers in California. READ MORE.

The Facts: Athletic Training NEEDS to be Licensed in California.

• California is the only state that does not regulate the profession of athletic training.

• Athletic training is a specific health care profession recognized by 49 states, the District of Columbia, the federal government, the American Medical Association and many other employers, organizations and associations. READ MORE.

Support for Athletic Training Licensure

Citing the serious risks posed to athletes, athletic trainers and their employers due to the unlicensed status of athletic trainers in the state, the following organizations have asked Governor Brown to license athletic trainers in California. READ MORE.

CA Ranked Poorly in Keeping High School Athletes Safe

When it comes to keeping high school athletes safe, a recent study ranked California almost dead last.

The research was conducted by UConn's Korey Stringer Institute and looked at state's health and safety policies relating to the leading causes of death for student athletes: sudden cardiac arrest, traumatic head injuries, exertional heat stroke and exertional sickling.

Assemblymember Kevin Mullin announces legislation to protect the public and regulate athletic training in California – the only state without oversight

Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) has announced legislation that would protect the public by requiring licensure for athletic trainers in California – the only state in the nation that does not regulate the profession. Under Assembly Bill 3110, individuals must be certified by the Board of Certification before they can call themselves “athletic trainers,” health care professionals charged with the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses sustained by athletes and individuals of all ages, according to a press release by the California Athletic Trainers’ Association. Read more via The Galt Herald.

CSULB Athletic Training Intern Honored For Saving A Student’s Life

The California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA) honored Cal State Long Beach athletic training intern and student Tori Mulitauaopele and Golden West College Athletic Trainer Pat Frohn with the “Lifesaver Award” for rescuing track athlete Javier Venegas after he collapsed at a Golden West College (GWC) track meet, officials announced Friday.

Today, Venegas is fully recovered from what was determined to be a heart arrhythmia. He returned to school during the first week of February. READ ARTICLE.

California’s Athletes Are At Serious Risk

California’s athletes are at serious risk – that’s the message the NCAA, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, National Federation of State High School Associations, athletic trainers from major professional sports teams and many others are delivering to Governor Brown.

Out Of Tragedy, A Heartfelt Program That Literally Proves To Be A Life-Saver

His “five minutes of being dead,” that’s what he calls them. And why not? It’s no exaggeration since more than once in the days that followed doctors told his parents he could have died during the procedures designed to save him.

The fact Javier Venegas is alive today is a tribute to the swift reactions of a coach and the athletic training staff at Golden West College. READ ARTICLE.

Athletic Trainers Honored for Saving Student’s Life

Two athletic trainers were honored Friday for saving the life of a Golden West College student who collapsed during a track and field practice.

Golden West Athletic Trainer Pat Frohn and Tori Mulitauaopele, a Cal State Long Beach student trainer, were presented with the Lifesaver Award by the California Athletic Trainers’ Assn. during a ceremony at Golden West in Huntington Beach. READ ARTICLE.

Local Athletic Trainers Back Push for State Licensing Program

A football player bangs helmets with another during a high school game. One gets up slowly, a little stunned.

Off the field, someone asks him how he is. “I’m fine, just got my bell rung. I can go back in,” he says. He didn’t lose consciousness and doesn’t have a headache. He knows where he is and can see straight.

Should he go back in?

Who determines that, particularly in California, wields a huge influence on that athlete’s future — possibly even his life. READ ARTICLE.

Schools Falling Short In Hiring Full-Time Trainers

Last month, a spectator suffered a heart attack while attending a basketball game at Rancho Bernardo High.

Robbie Bowers — the school’s certified athletic trainer, also known as an AT— was working the game. He and his staff put their emergency action plan into effect, utilizing the school’s defibrillator and CPR to save the elderly man’s life. READ MORE.

NFL's TV commercial, "The Future of Football: Defense"

Dan Pratt, the activities director at Rockford High School, explains that while athletic training is not readily available everywhere, his school benefited greatly from hiring their athletic trainer, Amanda Carlen. Amanda has the final say in whether an injured student is ready to play again and acts as their defense against further injury. She helps mend injuries, provides rehabilitation instruction and reestablishes peace of mind for the parents of hurt athletes. The NFL believes athletic trainers are a part of the future of football. See the NFL's TV commercial, "The Future of Football: Defense" here.

Advocates for Injured Athletes Promotes Sports Safety

While playing in his final high school lacrosse game, Tommy Mallon headed downfield after a ground ball at full speed and collided with a player from the opposing team who was also going for the ball.

Initially, the “hit” did not appear to be anything out of the ordinary, but Tommy did not immediately get up off the field. He was experiencing slight numbness at the back of his head, but his impulse was to “shake it off” and get back into the game. READ MORE.